were past, "let the car out." They
sped along, chatting merrily. The roads about Sandy Bay were ideal for
automobiling, and perhaps neither of the young occupants of the car
noticed how fast they were going when the vehicle topped a small rise and
began descending a long steep grade at the bottom of which the railroad,
which approached on a curve, was visible in two shining parallel streaks
of metal.

Suddenly there came a shrill, long drawn whistle.

"Hullo, a train!" exclaimed Roy. "Must be a freight; there's no regular
passenger scheduled to run at this time of day."

"That's right," agreed Jess. "I guess I'll slow down a bit till we see
how close it is to the crossing."

She pressed her foot on the brake pedal and shoved hard.

But to her astonishment there was no diminution in the speed of the car.
It plunged forward down the hill, gaining impetus every second.

"Better slow up, Jess," warned Roy, who had not noticed the girl grow
white and faint, as the possibility of what might occur if she could not
control the car flashed before her.

"I--I can't!" she gasped.

"The emergency brake!" almost shouted Roy. Below them he had seen a
swiftly moving column of white smoke. It was the approaching train. Now
it whistled once more. That meant it was close upon the crossing toward
which the car was racing at terrific speed.

"I've--I've tried it. It's jammed or something! Oh, Roy! the train!"

Before she could say any more Roy had risen from his seat, and gently,
but firmly, removed the girl's trembling hands from the steering wheel.
With might and main he tried to check the car. But all he did was in
vain. Drops of perspiration stood out upon his forehead. Jess, utterly
unnerved, sank back in her seat and hid her face with her gloved hands.

Above the roar of the on-dashing car could be heard the sharp puffing of
the approaching locomotive. Roy tugged as if he would tear his muscle out
at the brake lever, but it refused to budge. A sort of desperate coolness
came over him. But Jess, who had uncovered her eyes for an instant, gave
a sudden shrill scream.

"Oh, we'll be killed! Look,--the train! We'll crash into it!"

"Sit down, Jess," ordered Roy, sternly, for the excited girl had seemed
to be on the point of jumping from the car as it swayed and bumped toward
what seemed certain annihilation, at a terrific rate.

Roy glanced desperately about him. The hill was enclosed by steepish
banks with hedgerows at